Safety-lock for automobile-tires



J. KERSHAW.

SAFETY LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILE TlRES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3. |918.

v I forma 3441 14. ko z Patented Feb. 3, 1020.

JOSEPH KERSI-IAW, 0F J'OPLIN, MISSOURI.

SAFETY-LOOK FOR AUTOMOBILE-TIRES.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 3, 1918. Serial No. 252,393.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH KEnsHaw, a citizen of the United States,residing at Joplin, in the county oit' Jasper and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Locks forAutomobile-Tires, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in signaling apparatus, and hasparticular reference to such apparatus adapted to be used in connectionwith an automobile, to prevent the improper removal of a spare tire ortires from the machine, while not necessarily restricted to this use.

An important object of the invention is to provide means of the abovementioned character, which will serve as a lock to prevent theunauthorized removal ot the tire, and will also produce a signal, uponthe attempt of such unauthorized removal.

A further object of the invention is to,

provide apparatus of the above mentioned character, which is of simpleconstruction., convenient in use, and has its parts arranged in aninclosed manner, whereby the same will not be injured by the weather.

Other objects and advantages ot the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view throughapparatus embodying my invention, parts being shown in elevation, andthe contacts in the outer posi tion, and,

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the clamp partly removed from thesleeve, andl the contacts in the raised or inner position.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5' designates asleeve, which may be formed o1 iron,

or any other suitable material. This sleeve' 1s provided at its lowerend with an 1n-V wardly extending annular iange 6,V internallyscrew-threaded, as shown at 7. At its upper end, the sleeve 5 isprovided with an inwardly extending annular flange 8, Vwhich is notscrew-threaded. Arranged within the sleeve 5 and confined between thetlanges 6 and 8 is a covering 9, .0f .insulating material,

such as paper, rubber or the like, to insulate iexible contacts 19 and20 from sleeve 5.

Mounted to reciprocate within the sleeve 5 and the insulating coveringthereof is a metallic tube l0, formed oit' iron or the like. At its.lower end, the tube 10 is externally screw-threaded, as shown at 11,and this screw-threaded end is adapted to engage within thescrew-threaded opening 7, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. A

The numeral 12 designates the casing or box, having a cover 13, torcontrolling access to the interior thereof. This cover may be locked ina closed position as is obvious. In its lower end or bottom, the casing0r box 12has an opening 14, for the reception of the screwthreaded upperend of the tube 10, this end being clamped within the opening 14, bynuts 15, as shown. The casing or box 12 is rigidly secured to a suitableportion of the automobile.

Mounted to reciprocate within the tube 10 is an insulating tube 16,receiving a pair or" insulated wires 17 and 18. Resilient contacts 19and 20 are secured to the lower ends of the insulated wires 17 and 18and are adapted to be arranged within the lower ends of the insulatingcovering 9, when the insulating tube 16 is lowered, as illustrated inFig. l and to be drawn into the insulating covering, when the wires 17and 18 are elevated, as shown in Fig. 2. The insulated wires 17 and 18,at their upper ends, are bound together by a ring 21, also serving as astop to limit the downward movement of these wires. A wire 22 isconnected with the upper end ofthe insulated wire 17 and with oneterminal of an audible signaling device, such as an electric bell 22.'The other terminal of this bell is connected with a wire 23connectedwith the insulated wire 18. The wire 23 has a source of current 24,connected therein.

rlhe numeral 25 designates a tire encircling member, preferably formedin ltwo parts 26, hinged together at their lower ends,

as shown at 27. At their upper ends,the parts 26 carry extensions 28,externally screwthreaded, as shown at 29, to engage within thescrew-threaded opening 7. The encircling member 25 is constructedof asuitable size to fit snugly upon the tire,and cannot be collapsed whilethereon. One part 26 is rigidly secured to a bar or arm 26', which is inturn rigidly secured t0 .3v POI'OIL 0f Patented Feb. 3, 1920.v

the automobile, whereby this part is relatively stationary while thecoacting part 2G is adapted to be moved to opened and closed positionswith relation thereto.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

With the several parts of the apparatus arranged as shown in Fig. 1, anunauthorized person, attempting to remove the tire, will turn the'sleeve 5, in attempting to unscrew it from the extensions 28. rlhisturning movement will cause the sleeve 5 to move upwardly upon themetallic tube 10, causing the screw-threaded flange 6 to approach thescrew-threaded portion 11 of the tube 10. The screw-threaded portion 11is intended to enter the screw-threaded opening 7, but the contacts 19and 2O being arranged between the screw-threaded portion 11 and theflange 6 will prevent this screw-threaded engagement, causing a bindingaction. Further, when the contacts 19 and 20 are thus forced intoengagement with the flange 6 or metallic tube 10, a circuit will beclosed to sound the bell 22. In this closed circuit, current flows fromone pole of the source'of current 24, through wire 23, bell 22', wire22, wire 17, Contact 19, portion of the tube 10,4 or flange 6, contact20, wire 18 and back to the opposite pole of the source of current. Itis thus apparent that the unauthorized person cannot disengage the tireholding member 25 from the sleeve 5, and that a signal will be givenwhen an attempt is made to do the same.

lhen the authorized person desires to disconnect the member Q5 from thesleeve 5, the door 13 of the casing 12 is first opened, and theinsulated wires 17 and 18 are elevated, to draw the contacts 19 and 20wholly Within the insulating tube 16. The sleeve 5 is now rotated tounscrew the same from the extensions 28, and screw the same upon thescrew-threaded port-ion 11, as illustrated in `Fig. 2. A

VIt is to be understood that the lforni of my invention herewith shownand described is tov be taken 'as a preferred example of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the subjoined claims. Y

VHaving thus described my invention, I claim f 1. In apparatus ofy thecharacter described, a tire encircling member having a screw-threadedextension, a sleeve having one end screw-threaded to engage with thescrew-threaded'extension and having its interior insulated, a metallictube mounted to .slide Within the insulated sleeve and having one endscrew-threaded to engage with the screw-threaded end of the sleeve, aninsulating tube arranged within the metallic tube, and wires mounted toslide within the insulated tube and provided at their lower ends withresilient contacts, which are bridged across, thus closing the circuit,by the unscrewing of the metallic sleeve from the encircling member;

2. ln apparatus of the character described, a tire encircling memberhaving a screw-threaded evtension, a metallic sleeve having one endthereof screw-threaded to engage with the screw-threaded extension, ametallic tube mounted to slide within the metallic sleeve and having oneend screwthreaded to engage with the screw-threaded end of the sleeve,and wires mounted to slide within the metallic tube and insulatedtherefrom and provided at their lower ends with resilient contactsadapted to move outwardly when released, which are bridged across, thusclosing the circuit, by the unscrewing of the metallic sleeve from theencircling member.

3. ln apparatus of the character described, a relatively stationarymetallic tube having both ends screw-threaded, a metallic sleeve mountedto slide upon the metallic tube and having one end screw-threaded toengage with the screw-threaded end of the tube, a member having ascrew-threaded portion to engage within the screw-threaded end of thesleeve, wires mounted to slide within the metallic tube and insulatedtherefrom and provided at their lower ends with resilient contacts,which are bridged across, thus closingthe circuit, by the unscrewing ofthe metallic sleeve from the tube.

4. ln apparatus of the character described, a casing, a relativelystationary metallic tube having onerend extending into the casing, pairolwires mounted to slide within the metallic tube and insulatedtherefrom and having their upper endsl projecting above the upper endor' the metallic tube, a circuit connected with the upper ends of thewires, a metallic sleeve mounted to slide upon the metallic tube andhaving a screw-t ircaded opening, resilient contacts secured to thelower ends of the wires and adapted to be bridged across when the sleeveis screwed upon the tube, and a member having a screw-threaded portionto engage within the screw-threaded opening.

In testimony whereof l ture in the presence of two JOSEPH witnesses.

KERSHAVV.

.lditnesses B. R. Van PELT, losv PILE,

aiiX my` signa-

